Putting green surface

ABSTRACT

A turf-like putting green is described herein with an upper flat portion that leads to an elevated ramped-up portion where a simulated golf hole is located. Markings on the flat portion indicate how a user should align their putter head when striking the ball and also how far of a back stroke and forward stroke to take to sink putts from different distances. An exit hole out of the golf hole directs made putts to a return track that is configured with either a flat surface and two angled side arms, an entirely curved surface that complements the curvature of a golf ball, or a flat surface and multiple curved portions—all of which keep golf balls on the return track. The return track is situated adjacent to the horizontal portion and directs golf balls back to the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S. Ser. No. 61/860,142, a provisional patent application filed on Jul. 30, 2013 and entitled “PUTTING GREEN SURFACE.”

BACKGROUND

Golf is an incredibly popular game that requires an immense amount of practice to master. There are many facets to a decent golf game, but few are more important than a player's ability to putt. To become a decent putter, one must learn to analyze a green, assess where it breaks as well as how fast its surface is, find the right angle to approach the hole, and then judge the amount of force to use when hitting a golf ball. These are all skills that can only be mastered repetition.

Numerous imitation putting surfaces are currently available as practice tools to aid the wannabe golfer in perfecting a putting stroke. Conventional putting surfaces typically include a rollout turf surface with an imitation golf cup or hole. These surfaces do little more than just provide a small area for the practicing golfer to hit practice shots toward a golf hole. The user is left to a trial-and-error approach to improving their putting stroke.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this summary intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

One embodiment is directed to a turf putting green with a flat turf portion that leads to an elevated ramped-up portion where a simulated golf hole is located. The flat turf portion, which may be rolled up on itself for easier storage, includes alignment marks from different distances that instruct a user how to properly align a putter head to sink a putt from the particular distance and how much of a back stroke to take as well as the distance to accelerate the follow through of the putting stroke. The flat turf portion leads to the elevated portion where the hole is located. The hole includes an exit that directs a golf ball out of the hole, down a path internal to the elevated portion, and toward a return track. The return track is situated adjacent to the flat turf portion and directs golf balls back to the user.

The return track may take several different forms. In one embodiment, the return track includes a purely curved surface that complements the curvature of a golf ball. In another embodiment, the return track includes a flat surface and two attached angled arms that work in conjunction to keep the golf ball on track. In yet another embodiment, the return track includes a straight portion coupled to two curved portions for keeping the golf ball on track. The different return tracks may also include underneath clip arms that can be used to receive a track and keep the return track upright.

Another embodiment is directed to a rollout turf putting green with a flat turf portion that includes markings for aligning putts from multiple distances. The markings suggest alignments of a putter head and lengths of back strokes and follow through for making putts at the multiple distances, and the back stroke length and follow-through length vary in length the farther the distance is from the hole. The turf putting green also includes a return track for directing golf balls back to a user and an elevated portion with a hole and an exit that directs the golf balls out of the hole, down an internal path, and toward the return track. In this embodiment, the internal path has a gradual slope between two and five degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying figures not necessarily drawn to scale, in which like numbers indicate similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a topside view of a turf putting surface, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 1B illustrates one set of alignment and back stroke markings on a putting surface and a putter head during a taken back stroke, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the elevated portion of a putting surface, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate cross-section views of three different designs for a return track of a putting surface, according to different embodiments;

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate cross-section views of three different designs for a return track of a putting surface, according to different embodiments; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a topside view of a turf putting surface, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.

Embodiments discussed herein generally relate to improvements to an artificial putting surface that mimics a putting green. In one embodiment, the surface comprises a turf-like top that extends along a longitudinal portion to an upwardly sloping elevated section that includes a cup imitating a golf hole. When unfolded, a user can putt down the longitudinal portion and up the sloping elevated section to try and sink a golf ball in the cup. A hole in the cup directs golf balls from the cup to a return track that brings the ball back to the user without he or she having to break their stance or picking the ball up out of the hole. Markings on the turf-like top indicate how far certain points on the top are away from the golf hole and to give instructions on how to swing a putter to make a putt from the particular points. These instructions include, in one embodiment, alignment markings to align the head of a putter with to strike the golf ball at the proper angle, distance markings showing how far back to bring the putter head during the back stroke of a swing and distance of the follow through, and channel markings to show where to ideally hit the golf ball to be on track for the golf hole.

In some embodiments, the putting surface comprises a horizontal surface formed from a material that can be rolled out and laid flat on an even surface and an upper turf surface with marking that helps the user line up and putt golf balls with just enough force to reach the hole. The marking is sprayed to the turf surface using glue or adhesive combined with paint, in one embodiment, in a pattern that indicates the distance the golfer is from the hole and provides alignment markings for instructing the golfer on how sink the ball in the hole at the particular distance. The specific adhesive used for the marking is a mixture comprising 8% of an adhesive (e.g., Dura Pro® R-4500, manufactured by Dural) combined with paint (Behr® Premium Plus Exterior Flat paint, manufactured by the Behr® Corporation). Use of such an adhesive-paint mixture provides durable markings that do not fade through normal wear-and-tear and also does not impeded the true roll of a golf ball, meaning the marking will not affect the golfer's shot.

Multiple marking patterns are positioned along the turf-like surface to give the golfer guidance for putting from multiple distances. In one embodiment, separate marking patterns are included on the turf-like surface three, five, and seven feet away from the hole, and while each's alignment marks for the putter head and putting direction may be nearly identical, the back stroke and forward stroke indications vary the further away the identified spots are from the hole—e.g., the three foot putt has a shorter back stroke and forward stroke than the five and seven foot putts, and so forth. Varying the back stroke markings with distance instructs the user to use a longer backstroke and more follow through the farther they are from the hole. Obviously, additional, fewer, or different distances may be included in alternative embodiments.

FIG. 1A illustrates a putting surface 100 with an elongated longitudinal portion 102 leading to an elevated portion 104 with a golf hole 106. The top side of putting surface 100 is covered with a green turf that looks and performs like a real putting surface green. The golf hole 106 includes a downward sloping exit 108 that directs golf balls to an exit trough 140 feeding into the return channel 142. Return channel 142 directs the golf ball down a return track 110 adjacent to the longitudinal portion 104 of the putting surface 100. In one embodiment, the return track 110 runs parallel to the longitudinal portion 104 and returns made golf balls back to the user. The return track 110 may be different lengths in different embodiments, and in one embodiment, is constructed of plastic in a manner to hold the ball on the return track 110 as it travels back to the user. Several return track 110 designs are shown in FIGS. 3-4 and described in more detail below.

The top side of putting surface 100 includes marking 120 a-c, using an 8% mixture of adhesive (e.g., Dura Pro® R-4500) in combination with paint (e.g., Behr Premium Plus Exterior Flat) that illustrates to a user how to make a putt from three, five, and seven feet away. These three distances provide are measured from the hole 106, and their surrounding markings provide instructions for lining up a putt and suggesting distances of the user's back swing and accelerated through swing for an optimal putt. Marking 120 a shows how to sink a putt from three feet, marking 120 b shows how to sink a putt from five feet, and marking 120 c shows how to sink a putt from seven feet. Other distances may be used as well.

Each marking includes a guiding channel 120 a-c, each having an arrow pointing toward the hole 106. Alignment marks 122 a-c and 124 a-c provide guidance on how to align the putter head to properly strike golf balls and also give a starting point from which to begin a putt's back stroke. Back stroke marks 126 a-c and 128 a-c show where to end the backstroke and begin a putt's forward stroke, with the putter ideally striking golf balls at an angel parallel to alignment marks 122 a-c and 124 a-c. The back stroke channel marks 130a-c indicates a channel for the back stroke and also how far back to bring the club head of the putter and how far to accelerate the forward stroke. Back stroke alignment marks 126 a-c and 128 a-c, which are perpendicular to the back stroke marks 130 a-c, suggest how the user should position the putter head at the height of the back stroke. These back stroke alignment marks 126 a-c and 128 a-c run parallel to the back stroke channel marks 130 a-c to indicate that the user should keep the putter head straight throughout the putting movement, i.e., the user should only bring the putter straight back and straight forward. Moreover, the distances of the back stroke channel marks 130 a-c vary based on the distance from the hole 106. For example, the back stroke channel mark 130 a for a putt three feet away will be shorter than back stroke channel marks 130 b and 130 c for putts five and seven feet away.

In addition to directing and teaching the user on how to master a putting stroke, using adhesive in the marking on the horizontal portion 104 prolongs the longevity of the marking as golf balls consistently roll across it. Adhesive also provides a truer rolling grass-like surface for the balls to roll over. Use of an adhesive and paint mixture (8% of Dura Pro® R-4500 combined with Behr Premium Plus Exterior Flat, in one embodiment) for the marking 120 a-c lasts longer than other types of marking or stenciling and does not impede a golf ball's roll when compared to other marking an stenciling materials. The adhesive and paint mixture (8% of Dura Pro® R-4500 combined with Behr Premium Plus Exterior Flat, in one embodiment) enable markings 120 a-c to last longer as golf balls roll over the marking, putter heads brush/rub against the marking, users walk across the marking, and the putting surface is rolled and unrolled. Use of the adhesive also reduces the amount of paint used, which in effect gives a truer green-like surface for balls to roll over. That is not to say that other marking techniques may are not used in other embodiments. Alternative embodiments may use any number of coloring, printing (two-dimensional and three dimensional), and marking to add the marking in FIG. 1 to horizontal portion 104.

Golf hole 106 includes an opening that leads to downward sloping exit 108 that directs a made golf ball out of hole 106 and onto exit trough 140. Exit trough 140 angles downward as it feeds into return channel 142, which directs the golf ball to return track 110. Exit trough 140 may be exposed at the same or lower height as hole 106 to capture missed putts. Having exit trough 140 and exit hole 108 provides paths for both missed and made putts to reach return channel 142, and thereafter return track 110.

While the embodiment in FIG. 1 uses exit trough 140, alternative embodiments may turn exit hole 108 directly toward return channel 142 and use a ramp-down, gravity-assisted internal channel to place the golf ball on return channel 142. Eventually, return channel 142 feeds into return track 110, which in turn returns the golf ball back to the user. While discussion is made herein to a “return channel” and a “return track,” as if they are two separate things, they may actually be thought of as the same continuous return track that feeds directly from exit hole 108.

FIG. 1B illustrates one set of marking on a putting surface 100 and a putter head 182 going through a back stroke. A golf ball 180 is positioned on top of a distance marker of marking 120 a, and a forward channel gives the user directional and distance guidelines for putting the golf ball 180. Alignment marks 122 a and 124 a show a user how to orient the club head of putter 182 at the beginning of a putt, and alignment marks 126 a and 128 a show the user how to orient the club head of putter 182 at the height of the back stroke. Back stroke channel mark 130 a indicates how far back to bring the putter 182 during the back stroke. Together, the shown marking suggests how to properly align the putter 182, what direction to hit the golf ball 180, how much of a back stroke to take, and how to align the head of the putter 182 at the height of the back stroke.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the elevated portion 104, according to one embodiment. Elevated portion 104 rises to golf hole 106, and golf hole 106 includes an exit hole 184 that directs the ball down slope 200 to exit trough 140 of return channel 142. The illustrated embodiment shows golf ball 180 putted up the elevated portion 104 and taking two different paths: one when made in hole 106 and another when missed. When made in hole 106, golf ball 180 passes through exit 184 in hole 106 down internal path 182 toward exit trough 140. Internal path 182 slopes, relative to a flat surface, at an angle (a) that measures between three and five degrees, or in one specific embodiment, is exactly 3.6 degrees. Exit trough 140 directs the made golf ball 180 toward the return channel 142, which in turn directs it to return track 110.

When golf ball 180 misses the hole 106, it may be caught by exit trough 140, which is exposed to capture missed putts in one embodiment. This is shown by the progression of ball 180 past hole 106 and into exit trough 140. In one embodiment, exit trough 140 catches the missed putt and directs golf ball 180 toward the return channel 142. Alternative embodiments may be set up differently, and instead include an internal exit trough 140 inside elevated portion 104 is only used to direct made puts toward return channel 142. In such an embodiment, missed putts are not captured by exit trough 140, but are instead allowed to roll off the putting green surface 100.

FIGS. 3A-C illustrate cross-section views of three different embodiments of return track 110. Looking initially at FIG. 3A, track design 300 includes a planar surface 306 between internal ends 340 that lead into two angled side arms 342 and 344 keep a golf ball on the flat surface 306. Additionally, two clip arms 320 and 322 located underneath the planar surface 306 are used to hold an insert track (not shown) to ensure the planar surface 306 lies upright and parallel to the upper green surface 100.

FIG. 3B shows a second track design 302 that includes a curved surface 308 that, unlike planar surface 306, is completely curved for complementing the spherical surface of a golf ball. Two clip arms 324 and 326 are located underneath the curved surface 308 and are used to hold an insert track (not shown) to ensure the curved surface 308 is upright and runs parallel to the upper green surface 100. In one embodiment, the curvature of curved surface 308 is configured to match the curvature of a standard golf ball. Alternatively, the curvature may be larger than the curvature of a standard golf ball, or be curved to match larger- or smaller-sized golf balls.

FIG. 3C shows a third track design 304 that includes an upper surface 310 that is both flat in the middle and curved on the sides. Two clip arms 328 and 330 located underneath the upper surface 310 are used to hold an insert track connection piece (not shown) to ensure the upper surface section connected and 310 is upright and runs parallel to the upper green surface 100. Thus, the upper surface 310 has both a straight section (the inner portion) and two arcuate portions on each side of the inner portion that complement round golf balls. These arcuate portions may be manufactured to match the curvature of a standard or other-sized golf ball, in one embodiment, or alternatively, the arcuate portions may just generally be curved but not necessarily match a particular golf ball.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrates embodiments of return track designs 300, 302, and 304, respectively, and show specific measurements for the different surfaces and arms. Two dotted lines are provided for comparative perspective of the return tracks relative to each other. The shown embodiments are merely examples of specific embodiments, and are not provided to limit all embodiments to any particular measurements or designs.

Looking initially at FIG. 4A, the cumulative width of the planar surface 306 and angled side arms 342 and 344 measures 1.5625 inches, and each of the two connector arms 320 and 322 are 0.1875 inches wide. The two angled outer wings 342 and 344 are each raised, in one embodiment, to a height of 0.1037 inches.

Track 308 in FIG. 4B includes a curved surface 308 that spans 1.5625 inches wide between the two planar side arms 346 and 348. Measured vertically from top to bottom, the distance from the top of curved surface 308 to the bottom of clip arms 324 and 326 measures 0.2912 inches. Clip arms 324 and 326 are spaced 1.0625 inches apart, and each is 0.25 inches wide and 0.1820 inches high. Additional distances are illustrated.

Track 310 in FIG. 4C includes upper surface 310 that spans 1.5625 inches. The curved portions of curved surface 310 are each 0.25 inches wide. Clip arms 328 and 330 are spaced 1.0625 inches apart, and each is 0.25 inches wide and 0.1820 inches wide. Additional distances are illustrated.

FIG. 5 illustrates a topside view of another embodiment of a turf putting surface. Putting surface 500 includes the hole, turf, adhesive-paint markings, and return track, like that of putting surface 100 shown in FIG. 1A. Putting surface 500 has slightly different markings 520 a-c than the markings 120 a-c of putting surface 100. Specifically, markings include curved portions 550, as shown, that provide a slightly different marking 520 a-c than markings 120 a-c. Additionally, an indicia 560 is marked with the adhesive-paint mixture on the opposite end of the hole. Indicia 560 may be any kind of indicia, logo, name, image, or other type of marking. For example, the manufacturer, retailer, or other entity may mark putting surface 500 with the company logo or name as indicia 500. While indicia 500 is shown at one end of the putting surface, embodiments are not limited to such a placement of indicia 500. The entire turf top of putting surface 500 provides a canvass where indicia 500 may be marked, and virtually any additional markings can be added to putting surfaces 500 and 100 anywhere along the upper turf. Finally, while indicia 500 is only shown on putting surface 500, previously discussed putting surface 100 may also include one or more indicia 500 marked using the same adhesive-paint mixture

It should be appreciated that the various embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary. Accordingly, various modifications to these embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure and the claims provided below. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A putting surface, comprising: a flat turf portion that includes first alignment marks instructing how to align a putter head and first back stroke marks instructing a length of a first back stroke for sinking putts from a first distance; and an elevated portion coupled to the flat turf portion, the elevated portion comprising a hole with an exit that directs a golf ball out of the hole and toward a return track.
 2. The putting surface of claim 1, wherein the alignment marks and the first back stroke marks comprise an adhesive and paint mixture applied to the flat turf portion.
 3. The putting surface of claim 2, wherein the first back stroke marks comprise first rear alignment marks for aligning the putter head at a height of the first back stroke.
 4. The putting surface of claim 1, wherein the flat turf portion further comprises second alignment marks instructing how to align the putter head and second back stroke marks instructing a second length of a second back stroke for making putts from a second distance.
 5. The putting surface of claim 4, wherein the second distance is farther away from the hole than the first distance and the second back stroke marks are longer than the first back stroke marks.
 6. The putting surface of claim 4, wherein the second back stroke marks comprise second rear alignment marks for aligning the putter head at a height of the second back stroke.
 7. The putting surface of claim 6, wherein the second alignment marks and the second back stroke marks comprise an adhesive and paint mixture applied to the turf portion.
 8. The putting surface of claim 4, wherein the flat turf portion further comprises third alignment marks instructing how to align the putter head and third back stroke marks instructing a third length of a third back stroke for making putts from a third distance.
 9. The putting surface of claim 8, wherein the third back stroke marks comprise third rear alignment marks for aligning the putter head at a height of the third back stroke.
 10. The putting surface of claim 8, wherein the third alignment marks and the third back stroke marks comprise an adhesive and paint mixture applied to the turf portion.
 11. The putting surface of claim 1, wherein the return track comprises: a purely curved surface for complementing curvatures of golf balls; two planar side arms on opposite sides of the purely curved surface; and clip arms coupled to the purely curved surface for receiving a track connector.
 12. The putting surface of claim 1, wherein the return track comprises: an upper surface with a flat portion and two curved portions coupled to the flat portion on opposite sides; two planar side arms coupled to the two curved portions; and clip arms coupled to the upper surface for receiving a track connector.
 13. The putting surface of claim 1, wherein the return track comprises: an upper surface with a flat portion; two angled arms coupled to the flat surface; and clip arms coupled to the upper surface for receiving a track connector.
 14. A putting surface, comprising: a flat turf portion that includes markings for aligning putts from multiple distances, wherein the markings suggest alignments of a putter head and lengths of back strokes and follow through for making putts at the multiple distances; a return track for directing golf balls back to a golfer; an elevated portion coupled to the flat turf portion and the return track, the elevated portion comprising a hole with an exit that directs the golf balls out of the hole, down an internal path, and toward the return track, wherein internal path has a gradual slope between two and five degrees.
 15. The putting surface of claim 14, wherein the markings comprise an adhesive and paint mixture applied to the flat turf portion
 16. The putting surface of claim 14, wherein the gradual slope comprises 3.6 degrees and relative to the bottom of the elevated portion.
 17. The putting surface of claim 5, further comprising an exit trough coupled to the elevated portion and configured to receive the golf balls passing through the exit and down the internal path.
 18. The putting surface of claim 17, wherein the exit trough is coupled to a back of the elevated portion for catching missed golf balls rolling past the golf hole and directing the missed golf balls to the return track.
 19. A putting surface, comprising: a flat turf portion that includes markings for aligning putts from multiple distances, wherein the markings suggest alignments of a putter head and lengths of back strokes and corresponding forwards stroke for making putts at the multiple distances; a return track for directing golf balls back to a golfer, wherein the return track comprises one or more curved portions for receiving the golf balls; and an elevated portion coupled to the flat turf portion and the return track, the elevated portion comprising a hole with an exit that directs the golf balls out of the hole, down an internal path, and toward the return track.
 20. The putting surface of claim 19, wherein the return track comprises clip arms for receiving a track connector.
 21. The putting surface of claim 19, wherein the marking comprise an adhesive and paint mixture applied to the flat turf portion to provide a true roll of the golf ball and maintain visibility of the markings. 